The Saint Paul Public Schools Barack and Michelle Obama School was recently recognized as one of Finance & Commerce’s Top Projects of 2025, honoring the successful transformation of a historic school campus into a modern, unified learning environment. As part of Saint Paul Public Schools’ Envision SPPS initiative, the project combined the renovated Barrack School with a relocated Montessori program and a new addition to create a single pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade campus. H+U Construction served as the general contractor, delivering the project on an accelerated timeline while maintaining a strong focus on student safety, neighborhood coordination, and uninterrupted school operations.
Working closely with Snow Kreilich Architects and Saint Paul Public Schools, the team preserved the character of the original 1920s-era building while integrating modern educational spaces and building systems throughout. The project included restored masonry and historic features, a reimagined auditorium, new classrooms, upgraded mechanical and electrical systems, enhanced accessibility, and sustainable design elements that improve long-term performance. The result is a vibrant, future-ready campus that honors its history while providing a dynamic learning environment for generations of students to come.
Saint Paul Public Schools Barack & Michelle Obama School
Address: 707 Holly Ave., St. Paul
Project size: 149,605 square feet
Owner: Saint Paul Public Schools
Contractor: H+U Construction
Architect: Snow Kreilich Architects
Interior Designer: Snow Kreilich Architects
Engineer: Emanuelson-Podas, Inc. (electrical, fire protection, and mechanical); Loucks (civil and landscape architecture); Meyer Borgman Johnson (structural)
Finance & Commerce subscribers can view the digital article by clicking here: Finance & Commerce’s Top Projects of 2025